Blog Tour: Settling by Shelley Workinger

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At the beginning of the summer, Clio Kaid was one of a hundred teens brought to a secret Army installation. But it was no ordinary camp and they weren’t ordinary kids…

Soon after learning they were the products of a secret genetic experiment, the teens began developing super-abilities ranging from bounding lightness to blocking heaviness; blinding brilliance and the ability to vanish. These same gifts made them targets of a psychopath in officer’s clothing, and they found themselves fighting for their lives.

Picking up where “Solid” left off, Clio and her friends realize that they aren’t ready to go home; they’re determined to stay on campus and continue their journey of self- discovery. But someone doesn’t feel the same way and will do anything to drive them away – even kill.

Friendships will be tested, abilities will evolve, and more secrets will come out as the teens race to stop the killer before he sets his sights on one of them…

I’m incredibly happy to interview the amazing cast from Shelley Workinger’s Solid trilogy. Today, with me, I have Clio, Bliss, Miranda, Garrett, and Alexis, PLUS the two additional characters in Settling, Xavier and Rae. As not to give away anything too spoilery, I’ll try not to ask too many Settling-related questions, including why Jack couldn’t be here today. Promise… Maybe.

Asher: Hi, guys! It’s really starting to feel like summer now. (Blech.) It’s the time for beach-cruising, smoothie-sipping, party-crashing, and all-around laidback fun! When you think of summer, what automatically comes to mind?

Bliss: The beach.

Garrett: Bikinis on the beach.

Miranda: Skin damage from UVBs.

Xavier: Concert Tours.

Alexis: Yeah, did you hear Dave Matthews is coming to Jersey for THREE days?

Clio: But, we can’t really leave campus, remember?

Rae: Maybe our Social Director can work on that, hmm? *shoots pointed look at Miranda*

Asher: *scoffs* Social Director. *turns away from Miranda's glare* So, I love to hit waterparks over the summer. Kissing also comes to mind when I think of summer. *wiggles eyebrows* Are any of you otherwise engaged in a relationship? Got your eye on someone special?

Uncomfortable silence.

Clio, Alexis, Rae, and Xavier look at Bliss.

Bliss looks at the floor.

Garrett and Miranda glare at Clio.

Clio looks at the floor.

Rae: Well, this is awkward.

Asher: Oops. Well, not to worry, I have my suspicions and conclusions. Keeping to the summer theme, if you were an ice cream flavor, which would you be?

Bliss: Cookie dough and cake batter with hot fudge, caramel sauce, whipped cream, M & Ms… [freezes, realizing she’s gone on a bit too long]…You asked.

Asher: I did, and I kinda want some of that myself... I see your dirty look, Miranda – don’t think I forgot about your inherent dislike of fattening food products. Instead, you can give me a slogan to put on some awesome summer apparel. 

Miranda: Oh, I’ll do you one better –

Asher: Or not.

Miranda: I’m working on this app called Indo’ Glo.

Garrett: Not this again.

Miranda (talking over Garrett’s grumbles): It’s like a tanning machine in your phone that you can wave in front of your body to get bronze without the carcinogens. *turns to Alexis* But somebody needs to hurry up and make it happen before somebody else steals my idea.

Alexis: I really wish somebody would explain to her the difference between technology and magic. *sigh*

Asher: I actually know someone who might be able to... *catches everyone's look and breaks off* Never mind. Right, so some people don’t lounge around during the summer. People actually work. *shudders* How do you like your internships? Do you think it’s important for other young adults to do something… productive over the summer?

Clio: Definitely. I think I’d go nuts if I didn’t have my job to keep me busy.

Garrett: Busy? That’s what you’re calling it?

Miranda: Plus all the pecs…I mean perks, right?

Alexis (jumping in): I’m kind of on hiatus since campus went radio-silent.

Bliss: I wish Jack was here to tell us what’s going on at the treehouse. I mean, um…oh.

Another heavy silence descends.

Asher: Oops... again. Sorry, forgot - no loaded questions. Anyway, enough with the summer talk! I can’t resist probing you about Settling any longer. How are you adjusting to your new abilities? And besides how Clio is dealing with the killer-craziness happening around campus, how have the rest of you been coping?

Garrett: I’m getting super-er every day. I don’t know how Marvel’s gonna think up a costume that can contain all this. *dips chin to indicate his fab physique*

Miranda: Plus the extra compartment to stow your ego.

Alexis: I’d love a suit that could contain my ability.

Xavier: Then I’d have ‘em make yours reversible; layer on some push to counteract the pull.

Rae: How about we just wrap you in aluminum foil to reflect the light back on the stars and blind them?

Bliss: *claps with delight* We’ll have our very own shiny knight!

*Group eye roll*

Asher: Er... sure, Bliss... So there are some newbies this time around. Rae and Xavier, you get introduced in Settling. How does it feel to be the same, yet set apart based on your abilities? More, how do you like your new friends?

Xavier: Everyone’s really gone out of their way to make me feel welcome.

Alexis: Which you totally knew they would.

Clio: Since they can’t help it.

Rae: And by everyone, Asher, he means EVERYone.

Xavier: Hey, I hear you get your share of attention at the gym, Shortie.

Bliss turns sharply to Garrett.

Garrett (oblivious to Bliss’s reaction): Can’t wait to get back in there – the new equipment looks boss!

Rae: And Clio’s gonna be my new workout partner.

Clio: Can’t. Wait.

Asher: Xavier's... charm is not lost on me. *blinks rapidly to focus* There also seems to be a bit of a love triangle here, though I won’t say who with. Still, do you guys think it’s possible to be in heat for two people?

Bliss: NO

Everyone else: YES

 Garrett: I mean, no.

Miranda (to Bliss): She didn’t say ‘love’ – she said ‘heat,’ like a dog.

Rae: Do you mean, like a bit–

Xavier: Whoa, this is getting out of hand, don’t you think?

Garrett: Dude, you never jump in before they move to the creamed-corn pit.

Alexis: Please stop before I throw up more than just in my mouth.

Asher: Let's perish all thoughts of girls fighting in creamed-corn pits, okay, Garrett? So not going there. But, OMIGOD, that ending!? What the hell?! I’m caught between sympathy, being ticked, and anticipation of what’s to come. I can hardly stand the wait! At the risk of sounding like a bogus therapist, how does the ending make you feel? And Clio, what do you intend to do about it…all?

Clio: I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get back to where we were – even if it means wrestling in creamed-corn. *risks hopeful smile at Garrett*

Garrett: Hmph.

Bliss whimpers; Miranda silences her with a glare.

Asher: *aims sympathetic smile at Clio* Oh! Miranda, Garrett, do the following pictures remind you of anything? Make you think of anyone? 

      

“…I’d looked around at what I’d grabbed hold of in my panic and felt enormously lucky. Of all the people I could’ve surfaced with, I’d somehow found the best five fish in the pond. One may be a barracuda, another a clown fish, and the others various species in between, but we made up a swimmy school.” ~Clio (p.2)

Garrett: Nemo!

Miranda: Well, I assume that toothy-one is supposed to be a barracuda, and even if it tasted good – which I’m sure it doesn’t – you can’t eat it or you could get Ciguatera.

Group in unison: Huh?

Miranda: Food poisoning, obviously.

Asher: Right, right, wouldn't want to acquire... that. *makes weird face* Ah, my final question, a random parting query: I’m sure you all caught the MTV Movie Awards a little while ago and saw the new trailer for Breaking Dawn. So do tell, which are you, Team Jacob or Team Edward? *giggles*

Garrett: Team Emmett!

Bliss: I was going to say that, too. *blushes*

Clio and Miranda (at the same time): Edward.

Miranda (without missing a beat): Then I switch to Jacob.

Rae: *snorts* That’s funny, since you have such a problem with people switching teams.

Alexis: Why do we have to choose si–

Door bangs open, all heads turn.

Voice from out of screen-range: What is going on here? I didn’t authorize any interviews.

Major Eve Godwin’s face fills the screen for a second as she searches for the exit-button, then the screen goes black. 

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Thanks for stopping by, you guys! Hope I didn't get you into trouble... 

Make sure you stop by To Read or Not To Read for tomorrow's blog stop! You can click here to get the entire schedule for this tour. Also, there's a great contest going on on Shelley's website. Go here to check it out. Did you like the interview? Feel free to smack me, good-naturedly, with your thoughts!